UNIT 11: Early Empires

RELATED UNITS

Unit 6. Order and Early Societies

How do diverse political structures and relationships distribute power and material resources? Through the rise of the Chinese empire, Mayan regional kingdoms, and the complex society of Igbo Ukwu, this unit considers the origins of centralized states and alternative political and social orders. It is related to Unit 11 because it considers an empire as one system by which early societies ordered themselves. more »

Unit 8. Early Economies

How do societies assign value to land, labor, and material goods? A comparison of manorial economies in Japan and medieval Europe is contrasted with the tribute economy of the Inka, and the experience of dramatic economic change is illustrated by the commercial revolution in China. This unit is related to Unit 11 because it details the way in which one empire — the Inka — constructed complex economic systems to maintain power. more »

Unit 20. Imperial Designs

What lasting impacts did modern imperialism have on the world? The profound consequences of imperialism are examined in the South African frontier and Brazil, where politics, culture, industrial capitalism, and the environment were shaped and re-shaped. This unit is related to Unit 11 because it explores a later form of imperialism, and can serve as a useful contrast with the earlier period. more »

Unit 23. People Shape the World

What is the impact of the individual in world history? This unit examines the role of individual and collective action in shaping the world through the lives of such diverse figures as Mao Zedong, the Ayatollah Khomeini, and Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo. It is related to Unit 11 because charismatic individuals were frequently critical in establishing early empires. more »